While things have been ramping up in recent days in the Atlantic, the Eastern Pacific has a storm as well. Hurricane Frank has endured some ups and downs since forming as a tropical depression back on the afternoon of August 21st, but became the third hurricane of the EPAC season early Wednesday morning.

The Eastern Pacific has been the most active of the two basins that impact the United States so far this season with 9 depressions, 6 named storms, 3 hurricanes, and 2 major hurricanes. One of those major hurricanes, Hurricane Celia, grew to the optimum Category Five strength on the Saffir-Simpson Scale. Currently, Frank is a fledgling minimal hurricane with winds just reaching Category One strength.

As of the 2:00 PM PDT Advisory from the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Frank was located approxmiately 240 miles South of Cabo Corrientes, Mexico, and moving to the West-Northwest at 13 miles per hour. Maximum sustained winds are at 75 miles per hour with a minimum central pressure of 987 millibars, or 29.15 inches of Hg. The current forward motion is expected to continue over the next 24 to 48 hours with a chance for some slight strengthening during that period.

Presently, there are no watches or warnings in effect since the system is no threat to land. The latest discussion from the NHC indicates that an eye may be forming in Frank. However, there has been very little change in the overall structure of the storm. Hurricane Frank has about 36 to 48 hours left over warm water to further strengthen. After that, it will begin to enter the relatively cooler waters of the Eastern Pacific. The forecast calls for Frank to gradually weaken to a tropical storm, and then a depression over the next five days as it moves parallel to the West Coast of Mexico.